Click on the syllabus link above, or scroll down, to get to the course schedule and all requirements. Please check here often for up-to-date information and announcements regarding the class.
Syllabus
Spring 2018
Robert Ransick [rransick at bennington.edu]
DA2110.01
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 4
Time: Thursday, 8:00AM – 11:40AM
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to creative practices within digital technologies specifically focused on Internet based fine art projects. A broad survey of web-based digital arts is examined in tandem with an overview of tools necessary to create your own work. These include HTML, CSS, Photoshop, content management systems, and a basic introduction to JavaScript. Students apply knowledge and skills to web-based creative projects throughout the term. There are lectures, reading assignments, studio projects, and critiques during the course designed to aid the student in developing visual literacy and critical thinking skills in relation to the digital arts.
Requirements:
Active student participation throughout all aspects of this course will make your experience much more meaningful and is necessary for the successful completion of the assigned work. There are reading/research assignments, weekly discussions, student presentations, critiques and the production of work during this course. Students are expected to be present for all class meetings. Please email me if you must miss a class. Chronic lateness and/or more than 2 absences will seriously jeopardize your standing in this course.
Students will be evaluated based on the following: Participation/attitude, creative/conceptual work, technical dexterity and progress over the term.
I would like you to commit to the following this semester:
- That you will be respectful of both your peers and my time and efforts with your own: that you will work your hardest, be self-motivated, learn through trial and failure and share what you learn and/or know freely with all.
- Push yourself beyond the bounds of your comfort zone and be brave, adventurous and surprising.
Midterm Project:
The first portion of the term will be focused on learning the skills necessary to build a personal website for each student to house their ongoing creative work etc. We will look at principles of web design, information architecture, image optimization and best practice strategies.
Final Project:
Building on class readings and skills acquired students create a web-based artistic project of their own design. The instructor must approve projects and all work is to be located on individual websites. Please note that the final is to be an artistic project — designing your friends website etc. will not be acceptable.
>> Late work is not accepted!<<
Research/websites:
All students are expected to contribute in class on a regular basis. Each student is also expected to create and maintain a personal website for this class. All research, documentation, and creative work should be posted on your site for peer review. Individual websites should be updated regularly and include all of your work for this course. In-class presentation materials should be located on your website.
Student Presentations:
Each student will be assigned an artist or collective to make a brief (10-15 minute) presentation on. Presentation materials — text, image, links etc. — are to take the form of a web page.
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Office hours/help:
I am available for technical help or to discuss individual projects via office hours and email. If you would like to schedule a time to meet please send me an email. Do not leave voice mail! I check email frequently and will usually respond within a few hours.
Anna Kroll is the Digital Arts Technician and has regular help hours each week. For more information, please visit the POD website.
Books:
There are no required books for this course.
This schedule is a guide and will change over the course of the term, check back often.
Schedule:
Session 1: February 22
Introduction to the course.
What is digital art? What is internet art?
Intro to HTML and BBEdit.
Session 2: March 1
Discuss readings and work.
Bennington server space/accounts.
FTP, HTML, and CSS.
Read:
Handout: Rachel Greene, Web Work, A History of Internet Art, Art Forum
Watch:
How the Internet Works (All 8 videos, approx. 46 minutes. Take notes.)
Due:
Create biographical text-based web page inspired by Heath Bunting’s _readme.html.
W3 Schools HTML5 Tutorials:
Complete the following sections and exercises
-HTML Introduction to HTML Colors
Session 3: March 8
Discuss readings and work.
Photoshop, site design and architecture.
Read:
Handout: from Art And The Internet. Page 12-33.
Student presentations:
Lali Cardozo: Natalie Bookchin
Toby Lewkowicz: Olia Lialina
Due:
Write one-page html document in response to the Internet Art reading using BBedit and an external style sheet. Discuss at least 2 artists and their work from the reading. Be sure to include links and experiment with font, color etc.
W3 Schools CSS Tutorials:
Complete the following sections and exercises
-CCS Intro to CSS Fonts
W3 Schools HTML5 Tutorials:
Complete the following sections and exercises
-HTML Blocks to HTML Head
Session 4: March 15
Discuss readings and work.
Review work to date. CSS Layout.
Image optimization with Photoshop.
Work on layout proposal.
(Don’t forget about resource links regarding color, type, layout etc. here.)
Read:
Chapter 7, Page Design from Web Style Guide.
Student presentations:
Emma Ogden-Wolgemuth: Vuk Cosic
Ahmad Yassir: Jodi.org
Due:
W3 Schools CSS Tutorials:
Complete the following sections and exercises
-CCS Icons to CSS Align
W3 Schools HTML5 Tutorials:
Complete the following sections and exercises
-HTML Layout to HTML Responsive
Re-create the one page reading (Art And The Internet)response from last week using elements discussed in this weeks tutorials (responsive pages etc.) Do not use javascript.
HELP SESSIONS:
Anna will hold help sessions on Monday, March 12 from 1-3pm and Wed. March 14 from 3-5pm.
Session 5: March 22
Scanning. Work on layout proposal.
Individual meetings with Robert.
Read:
Chapter 4, Interface Design from Web Style Guide.
Due:
Site map/outline for student pages. Draft design/layout (in Photoshop) of you home page and digital arts page (minimum–more is better) for meeting with Robert. There will be a demo on outputting Photoshop files to jpegs in class. If you know how to do this, upload your jpegs on your web server.
HELP SESSIONS:
Anna will hold help sessions on Monday, March 19 from 1-3pm and Wed. March 21 from 3-5pm.
Session 6: March 29
Presentations
Work on sites in class.
Student presentations:
Bibek Basnet: Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries
Shelby Moore: Rafaël Rozendaal
Due:
Present revised site map/outline and design to the class for input. Assets for site should be ready (photographs, writing etc.)
Session 7: April 5
Review work to date.
Work on sites in class.
Student presentations:
Steven Hendricks: Michael Mandiberg
Maddie Shepardson: Minerva Cuevas
Due:
Personal sites should be near completion (HTML + CSS).
Session 8: April 12
Midterm critique
Due:
Student sites are to be complete, on student server (your website) and working.
Session 9: April 19
Introduction to WordPress.
Student presentation:
Malach Campbell: Petra Cortright
Cameron Schiller: Martin Syms
Read:
The following sections about WordPress:
About
WordPress
Semantics
Using Themes
Session 10: April 26
Individual meetings with Robert (final project ideas).
Student presentation:
Ivy Stewart: Brooke Singer
James Mulligan: Darius Kazemi
Due:
– First draft of ideas for final project. You should have a page on your website that contains a paragraph description of your idea along with sketches/images and a site outline/map. Individual discussions with Robert.
– Style child theme in wordPress to have a look and feel that relates to your main website.
PLAN DAY, NO CLASS: May 3
Session 11: May 10
-Final ideas presentation
-JavaScript
Student presentation:
Stuart Shugg: Yes Men
Martin Tse: James Bridle
Isabel Twanmo: Jonathan Harris
Due:
– Presentation of ideas for final project to the class. Description of the project along with sketches, site map etc. should be located on your website.
Complete the entire jQuery tutorial on Codcademy (approximately 3 hours).
-Examples of code by Anna Kroll: here.
– Create a simple page that uses the jQuery effects.
Session 12: May 17
Work on finals.
Review work to date.
Session 13: May 24
Final projects should be near completion (html/css, etc) and functioning.
Working session to resolve technical challenges etc.
Session 14: May 31
Final projects discussion and critique.
Last class. Final projects due. (All work from the term must be complete and located on student web pages by the start of class.)